Danke schon
This time last year everybody here in Aachen's Christmas markets in Germany
Were using up their old Deutschmark
12 months on of course they've all got well accustomed to euro notes and coins12
But whether they really feel much affection for the new single currency
Well that's another matter
Take the stallholders here
The majority are German and whilst most of the shoppers are from neighbouring Belgium and Holland just a few miles away
There's still a lot of nostalgia for the Deutschmark
I'm a seller for candy and sweets and all the customers say 'oh the euro is teuero
It is expensive and then I think it is better we go back to the D-mark
Drinks have got more expensive when you go out
Everything's got more expensive
That is definitely one point one aspect that I can see
There's been numerous complaints here in Aachen and elsewhere in the Eurozone
Where the changeover to the euro has pushed up prices
Retailers deny it but some countries like Belgium and Austria are lobbying the European Central Bank to print the one-euro coin as a note as well
To help people feel richer using the new currency
Away from the cash tills though there is more optimism for the euro
I don't really feel more European but I think it's a good thing
Yes I think just like I said it's for me because I do travel a lot and I do go and I have customers from Ireland and they are very happy
They say 'We've got the euro you know we don't have to think in Deutschmark
And I think it's good for business and we are still waiting for Great Britain
So there is some nostalgia still here for the Deutschmark
But overall people do say it's a good thing the euro for this region and indeed the whole of Germany
And they'd like to see other countries adopt the single currency
Of course Sweden votes next year
But there's still a big question mark over the UK
Angela Garvey BBC News in Aachen Germany
